This song never fails to astonish. Not only the intelligence of the lyrics, but the simplicity and purity of the music—quiet, rhythmic back background, single-note solos. Eddie Vedder is the kind of musician who can make a ukulele sound like a full-string orchestra. I've loved this song for a long time, and I knew when I wanted to write an essay about living with my son, who has severe disabilities, this was my go-to song.

People often assume that I can't write as much because of my son's enormous needs, his disruptiveness. But ironically, my efflorescence as an essayist as well as a novelist I can say is because of my son.

When you want more than you have
You think you need
And when you think more than you want
Your thoughts begin to bleed